FL Governor Poll: Crist 48, Scott 38

Michael Warren

April 30, 2014 4:04 PM

A new poll shows Florida Republican governor Rick Scott behind his most likely opponent, Republican-turned-independent-turned-Democrat Charlie Crist, by 10 points. The Quinnipiac poll of registered voters found 48 percent support Crist while 38 percent support Scott. Scott's fortunes would improve if he ran against former Democratic state senator Nan Rich, who polls 36 percent to the Republican's 42 percent.

But Scott, first elected in 2010, is struggling elsewhere. He's underwater in both his favorability/unfavorability rating (39 percent/46 percent) and his job approval/disapproval rating (42 percent/50 percent). Crist, who served as governor from 2007 to 2011 as a Republican, has a much better favorability/unfavorability rating of 43 percent and 36 percent, respectively.

Crist left the GOP in 2010 after he began losing his bid for the party's nomination to the U.S. Senate to Marco Rubio. He ran and lost in the general election to Rubio as an independent. Crist officially became a Democrat in 2012.

Update: Republican polling firm Gravis also has a poll out today, showing Scott with a 1-point lead over Crist, 43 percent to 42 percent.